OpenSky Merchant Community Bloghttp://blog.opensky.com
News, Updates & Best Practices for OpenSky MerchantsWed, 04 Feb 2015 02:44:35 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/http://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngOpenSky Merchant Community Bloghttp://blog.opensky.com
What is Co-Pilot?http://blog.opensky.com/2015/01/28/what-is-co-pilot/
http://blog.opensky.com/2015/01/28/what-is-co-pilot/#commentsWed, 28 Jan 2015 17:18:21 +0000http://blog.opensky.com/?p=1844]]>OpenSky launched our Co-Pilot program in August 2014 to leverage our team’s experience and proprietary technology to plan and execute all aspects of digital marketing for OpenSky merchants. This program has evolved and expanded to include recommendations for merchandising and promotional strategy development. It is our deepest partnership between OpenSky and merchants. In just a few months, we have become a marketing and merchandising partner to our most successful merchants. Co-Pilot merchants receive substantial support and collaboration from the entire OpenSky team. They are OpenSky’s preferred merchants and their businesses are growing.

Co-Pilot is Proven to Drive Sales

Of the 7,000 merchants on OpenSky, approximately 250 have been accepted to participate in the Co-Pilot program to date. These merchants include 75 of our top 100, and we are working to help them grow to more than $100,000 in individual monthly sales throughout 2015.

Exclusive Benefits for Co-Pilot Merchants

Advertising Optimization: OpenSky creates, manages and optimizes the marketing of Co-Pilot brands across Facebook, Google, Pinterest, and over 7,000 publisher websites. We charge 0% commission on all sales generated from these channels. All of these activities are optimized to drive NEW traffic, followers and conversions.

Preferred On-Site Promotion: Co-Pilot merchants are preferentially featured on the OpenSky Homepage, Top 100 Products, Landing Pages, Recommended products and all other merchandised selections generated by the OpenSky Merchandising team.

Merchandising Email Promotion: OpenSky sends personalized promotional emails and Mobile App notifications to millions of US shoppers everyday. Co-Pilot merchants receive guaranteed preferential placement in these emails and notifications. Today, for every $100 a merchant allocates to their Co-Pilot spend, they receive a minimum of 1 featured placement. (Merchants must be part of the OpenSky Rewards Credit loyalty program).

Followers: Co-Pilot merchants are promoted to our most active OpenSky shoppers and are part of the “Merchants to Follow” program aimed at new OpenSky members.

Dedicated Emails: Co-Pilot merchants receive placement in our promotional emails, which are sent to our most active 50,000 OpenSky shoppers.

Database Matching: Co-Pilot merchants can match their databases with the OpenSky database and have all common customers automatically follow the merchant’s OpenSky store. This has proven to be a very effective “jump start” to build a large and engaged OpenSky following.

Notifications: Co-Pilot merchants receive preferential distribution of their notifications during promotional events. For example, during Credit events or other special promotions, Co-Pilot merchant promos are pushed first to their Followers.

Reporting: Co-Pilot merchants receive detailed store analytics that include analysis of the complete sales funnel: Page Views, Add to Cart actions, Social Actions and Orders. We sent the first version of this out this last week, and more reports and recommendations are forthcoming.

“We do it for you” Promotions: Co-Pilot merchants can elect to have OpenSky manage all of their monthly promotional activity. After establishing a calendar together, OpenSky handles all implementation and optimization to meet your goals. (There is a a monthly fee for this service.)

New Features: Co-Pilot merchants receive “first look” at new programs as they are developed. These include Twitter Commerce, LivingSocial Distribution, forthcoming Canada and international programs and new features like, coupons, Guides, and OpenSky Select “Voucher” events.

Customer Service: Inquiries from Co-Pilot merchant’s customers are automatically moved to the top of the queue of Customer inquiries. We have put a dedicated team in place to manage these relationships.

How does Co-Pilot Work?

All OpenSky merchants are eligible to apply to be part of the Co-Pilot program. Application is free. Merchants who are accepted into Co-Pilot must allocate a minimum of $500 a month to marketing their goods off OpenSky and are expected to collaborate with us on promotions and events.

Chances are you’ve seen mentions of the Co-Pilot Marketing Program in your Merchant Toolkit and the Merchant Newsletter. Maybe you’ve heard that it’s our way to get your products in front of shoppers on Facebook and Google. Maybe you’ve heard that any sale that results from a Co-Pilot placement is 100% commission-free.

While both those facts are true, I think it would help to take a closer look at a merchant who’s seen an amazing return of her Co-Pilot investment: Bottled Up Designs.

Laura Bergman creates recycled, eco friendly jewelry from bottles found in the dumps of wooded habitats and rural farmlands in the Pennsylvania Amish County. She does this in an effort to remove this hazard from the environment and wildlife. Each piece includes “The Story of the Glass” detailing the history and age of the glass used.

As a one-person company, Laura joined OpenSky in October 2013 and found some success within our community. However, like all small businesses, she faced the continual challenge of getting her products in front of potential customers.

Laura and the Co-Pilot team allocated Bottled Up’s marketing spend across different channels on and off OpenSky to optimize for the greatest return on spend.

One month after starting Co-Pilot, Laura’s sales were up by 241%. Visits to her store increased by 233%.

How’d this happen? The Co-Pilot team tried different outlets including Facebook, Google, OpenSky, retargeting banners, etc. Our proprietary technology quickly iterated and doubled down on what was working and turned off what wasn’t. In Laura’s case, the key turned out to be Facebook. She saw an increase in loves, followers, and, most importantly, sales. Bottled Up is gaining momentum and Laura has had her hands full fulfilling orders.

We’d love to help your business grow, too. Contact the team today to discuss the possibilities.

“I’ve been in advertising for many years. If you are scared about internet marketing, this is the perfect solution.”

Themes are comprised of a layout, four main pages (Home, About, Contact and Locations), content module placeholders, and default design formats for every available content module. Each theme includes a Desktop, specialized mobile and standard Facebook version.

The beauty of our design system is that it allows almost every element of every theme to be customized down to the pixel. So think of themes as a pre-designed starting point that can be tailored to fit your unique brand, all without any coding.

Storefront powered by OpenSky is a completely free standalone website that enables you to operate an ecommerce flagship outside of the OpenSky marketplace.

]]>http://blog.opensky.com/2014/11/25/weve-added-10-additional-themes-for-your-storefront/feed/0openskystorefrontScreen Shot 2014-11-20 at 10.19.08 AMStorefront by OpenSkyStaff Picks – We love your Storefronthttp://blog.opensky.com/2014/11/21/staff-picks-we-love-your-storefront-2/
http://blog.opensky.com/2014/11/21/staff-picks-we-love-your-storefront-2/#commentsFri, 21 Nov 2014 17:23:54 +0000http://blog.opensky.com/?p=1815]]>It’s been a little over a week since we announced Storefront powered by OpenSky, and we love what we’re seeing from merchants who have customized and branded their storefronts. We couldn’t help but share a few.

We’ve updated the posting tool to give you the ability to run promotions and control whether credits can be applied for additional savings.

Previously, discounts have always “stacked” with credits, which could lead to some unexpectedly large price deductions.

By clicking the new button (shown above) when setting up a promotion, shoppers will be able to use credits on the products specified by that promotion. When that button isn’t clicked, shoppers can’t apply credits to your product(s).

Use this feature to boost your sales! Now that you have greater control, increase your participation in the Rewards Credit program. The program drives over 50% of sales on OpenSky, and larger percentages drive more sales and get more exposure during credit events. Increase your percentage knowing that other discounts won’t be combined!

OpenSky today announced the release of Storefronts powered by OpenSky, a new free technology that enables one-click launch of a fully functional e-commerce website.

“We are helping businesses grow by making it easier to sell online,” said John Caplan, OpenSky Founder/CEO.

OpenSky Storefronts are created in minutes by using product information extracted from the OpenSky marketplace. Inventory and product information are shared in real-time, reducing costs and time that merchants spend managing their inventory and product catalog across multiple channels. OpenSky Storefronts are free for existing OpenSky merchants. This allows businesses to shift money from web hosting and development budgets, to product development, promotion and marketing.

OpenSky distribution programs afford OpenSky brands additional opportunities for sales and exposure on large, national retail platforms. This is part of our mission to help you grow your business both on and beyond OpenSky.

Brands that are chosen to participate in OpenSky distribution programs ship quickly, have beautiful product imagery, and can commit to the firm inventory requirements of our partners.

All distribution programs will require you to ship with 48 hours of receiving your order with a packing slip inside the box. If any brand fails to meet these requirements, they will not be invited to participate in future programs.

How you receive orders: All orders you receive from distribution programs will flow directly into your OpenSky dashboard, making fulfillment easy and seamless for you.

How you are paid: You will be paid within 40 days of receipt of the order.

LivingSocial: Overview

Products selected for LivingSocial distribution will be merchandised on LivingSocial.com for 14 days. Brands whose products are deemed a success by LivingSocial may be asked to participate in sales on a regular basis after the first run.

The LivingSocial distribution program is managed as a wholesale arrangement, which is different from the revenue share you regularly have with OpenSky. All orders are fulfilled via drop ship. You will provide us with your best wholesale price and your best retail price; from there, we will work with you and LivingSocial to price your item as competitively as possible to sell large volume.

We’re looking for products across all OpenSky categories. There are immediate opportunities for brands, and we are also planning up to 12 weeks in advance. So, if you are able to reserve the required inventory for a later date, you may submit for a future promotion.

Living Social: Requirements for Submission

– You must submit your best wholesale price available for the product you are submitting, taking into consideration the potential volume of the promotion.

– You must have a minimum of 1,000 units of the item, though we prefer items with upwards of 2,000 units.

– We will consider products across price ranges, but our focus is on goods that can drive $20,000+ in sales.

Within the next two weeks, we will begin an exclusive distribution program with Sears, one of the nation’s top 10 largest retailers. The program, called OpenSky Fresh Finds, only at Sears, will launch first on Sears.com, with dedicated in-store displays to follow shortly thereafter.

Sears has been a retail powerhouse for generations, and we are thrilled to be partnering with them to bring the Sears shopper OpenSky’s unique and inspiring brands.

Every week, OpenSky Fresh Finds, only at Sears will showcase a new collection of apparel, accessories, and lifestyle goods around one of the season’s exciting trends. The first three collections have been fully confirmed and are now closed, with the themes “Celebrate America”, “Love-a-Fair”, and “Rio.” Brands that were accepted into these first collections have been contacted, and will be informed of the confirmed launch date very shortly.

We are now accepting submissions for the next four collections.

Brands that are selected to participate in the OpenSky Fresh Finds, only at Sears program will ship orders using a Sears UPS account–Sears pays for shipping on all orders! In store, the OpenSky Fresh Finds, only at Sears displays will showcase several styles from the week’s featured collection. Customers will purchase products via tablet at the in-store display, and orders will be shipped to customers.

OpenSky Fresh Finds, only at Sears: Requirements for Submission

– In order to be considered for an upcoming OpenSky Fresh Finds, only at Sears collection, you must complete the OpenSky Fresh Finds, only at Sears submission form in full. You will complete one application per product.

– For each product you submit, you must submit a UPC code. If your product has variations (size, color, etc.) you must submit a unique UPC for each variation. If you do not already have UPCs for your products, you may buy them at http://buyabarcode.com.

– You must be able to offer a 20% discount on your product(s).

– You must provide us with your UPS account information (for address validation). Please note, Sears is paying for shipping.

– You must set aside a minimum of 20 units, but 50+ are preferable. The objective of the program is to introduce Sears’s national audience to OpenSky’s innovative brands—therefore, we’re looking for brands with sufficient inventory to cover a national audience.

Please review the inspiration images for the four summer collections we are currently composing–only products that fit these concepts will be considered for the next four collections:

*Please note that due to the volume of applications, we will only be able to follow up directly with brands that are chosen for these programs.*

]]>http://blog.opensky.com/2014/06/23/opensky-distribution-programs-overview-requirements-submission-forms/feed/0openskyandrewlos_FF_nextcoll_v03Great News! Notifications are here to stay.http://blog.opensky.com/2014/06/11/great-news-notifications-are-here-to-stay/
http://blog.opensky.com/2014/06/11/great-news-notifications-are-here-to-stay/#commentsWed, 11 Jun 2014 22:38:14 +0000http://blog.opensky.com/?p=1746]]>After over 1 million notifications sent and more than $1mm in sales generated for the merchant community, we’re excited to announce that notifications are out of beta and live for all Merchants to use to grow their business.

Notifications are a very clear and simple way for you to promote to your followers. By creating a simple promotional post, you’ll trigger an email and app notification to your followers.

Here’s how they work:

+ Any post you create with one of the following promotions – 25% off or more, free shipping, exclusive sale, storewide sale - will trigger a notification (email and push).

In the end, the more followers you have, the more notifications will be sent. Posts are your way to communicate directly with shoppers thereby triggering notifications that help drive sales.

Go make a Post. Send a Notification. Ship an Order. Grow your business.

I’m proud to share with you an early look at the first OpenSky branded distribution program that we’ve launched with LivingSocial.

This initiative is core to our mission of helping OpenSky entrepreneurs grow their exposure and sales–both on and beyond OpenSky–with the OpenSky Dashboard serving as your single, simple platform that you use to grow your business.

Distribution opportunities will be available exclusively for all active OpenSky brands only. Qualifying brands will meet our quality, fulfillment, and activity guidelines. I believe this opportunity has the potential to be substantial for those that are invited to participate.

We’ll be sharing more details with the whole community as the third-party distribution programs roll-out over the coming weeks, but today, please take a look at the first OpenSky brands on Living Social (you’ll see the friendly OpenSky logo in the right hand corner of these goods).

In the coming weeks, we will roll-out another exclusive OpenSky distribution program with a national retail platform in multiple categories. The next partnership, called OpenSky Fresh Finds, will consist of a curated assortment of products from OpenSky merchant brands shared on a weekly basis. The assortment will be merchandised to a national audience via email campaigns, on the retailer’s homepage, and ultimately in-store in exclusive OpenSky Fresh finds displays.

This event is designed to give Merchants an opportunity to to move through overstock inventory, past season items, or clearance products. The goal: help you free up some cash flow on some slow-to-move inventory so you can reinvest back in your business.

As for shoppers – well, this sale will be a nice limited time event where they’ll be able to score some big time savings on a select group of limited inventory.

It’s a win-win for everyone.

Interested in participating? Here’s what you need to know:

When: Begins May 19th

Official Hashtag: #overstockonopensky

Criteria to Participate:

Discount: must be 60% off, or more.

Quantity: no minimum, although items with greater quantity will receive additional consideration for email placement

Submission: Products must be submitted and approved for inclusion by the OpenSky team. Apply to have your products included in the events by filling out this form (select “Overstock” as the promo type)